by CONNIE TABBERT
Editor
BEACHBURG — A Beachburg teenager has raised $4,000 for an educational trip to Ecuador.
During the excursion, Paige Knechtel, 18, will help build a facility, participate in a variety of activities and learn a new culture.
Paige, the daughter of Mike and Debbie, leaves July 5 for her adventure. The event is through the Educational Fund Tours along with We to Me and Free the Children Fund.
Paige enjoys travelling and helping others, so it’s a great combination. She believes every child has the right to an education, so helping to build a school is what she’s hoping to do. Travelling with her from Pembroke are Leanne Hall, Danielle Hall, Renee Kong and Katherine Nicol with Catherine Chen of Toronto joining them. They will join up with other volunteers on this trip as they travel to Ecuador.
Last year, Paige attended information sessions in Ottawa about Me to We and it changed her outlook on life. She then earned a full Me to We Leadership Camp Bursary and from there her interests in helping others has grown. She’s even a part of the Free the Children Club at Fellowes High School in Pembroke, where she will return in September for a fifth year.
A fundraiser for the club at Hallowe’en was We Scare Hunger and of the 1,000 cans of food collected for the food bank, Paige was successful in collecting 750 cans of food in Beachburg.
Looking at her itinerary, Paige is looking forward to visiting a cocoa farm to learn how to make chocolate; playing games with the children; planting medicinal gardens; meeting a Shaman and artisan and learning about the culture and beliefs as well as enjoying a traditional dance presentation. The group will also have a chance to stand with one foot on either side of the equator.
The educational portion includes investigating global issues, exploring social issues, building leadership skills, reflective journalling to deepen the service experience and discussion at the end of each day regarding what they each experienced.
Paige noted she had to raise the money, which was about $4,000, for the trip. When she began planning for the trip a year ago, she had $1,000 in the bank. She babysat, hosted garage and bake sales and received gifts of money instead of presents.
Mom Debbie said what made it convenient was instead of paying for the trip in one lump sum, a monthly plan was set up.
Paige has learned some of the culture already, knowing she’s not allowed to wear shorts above the knee, show her shoulders or wear tight clothing. She’s not allowed to give gifts to anyone or take photos of people without their permission.
“We will live within the culture,” she said.
Paige is also looking forward to trying new foods, although she does admit there is also the familiar food, such as rice, chicken, beans and fruit.
“There will be a good mix of food,” she said. “They’d like you to step out of your comfort food and try the food there first.”
Debbie said she wasn’t concerned about her daughter going to Ecuador until she heard about the earthquake a few months ago.
“I was thinking, that’s where Paige is going,” she recalled.
However, familiar with military life since her husband is in the military and her son is in cadets, she realizes any travelling her daughter can do will only enrich her life.
“We know you can walk off the sidewalk onto the street and get hit by a car,” Debbie said, explaining how she comforts herself with her children travelling. “They’re young, I want them to learn as much as they can.”
Paige knows the weather will be “very humid and damp. It’s the same as Costa Rica (where she has travelled to), so I know I won’t ever be dry.”
There is also the Zika virus down there, which is transmitted through mosquitoes, so she will be wearing light-weight long sleeve clothing and pants and using plenty of Off bug spray. She will also take malaria pills while on the trip.
The Mingo Lodge, which was built by Me to We for these kinds of trips, will provide the comforts of home while they are there, with the addition of netting around the beds. The students will also be provided with work-boots, gloves, protective eyewear and hardhats.
“We don’t know what kind of tools we will use,” Paige said. “It could be modern to primitive.”
Paige chose this trip because it’s shorter, closer to home and less expensive.
She said for anyone interested in learning more about Me to We bursaries to call her, 613-582-7371.
